BUCHAREST (Agencies) -- Romania's President Traian Basescu and French President Nicolas Sarkozy signed a joint declaration to implement a strategic partnership between the two countries, Xinhua reported.

The document was signed during Sarkozy's one-day visit to Romania. The ""strategic partnership"" includes political dialogue, economic relations, scientific and cultural cooperation as well as free movement of persons, defense and security, highlighting political objectives that will guide bilateral cooperation in the following years, and support for Romania's modernization and the consolidation of its capabilities of acting like a member state of the European Union (EU).
Basescu said at the signing ceremony that Romania will give France solid support when it holds the rotating half-year presidency of the EU in the second half of 2008.
Sarkozy assured the Romanian people of the friendship, consideration, and fraternity of the French people and emphasized the timing of events: while he was seeing President Basescu, the Romanian and the French Parliaments were proceeding to the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. “The meaning of the Partnership we have signed today is to allow Romania to become a strong voice on the European stage” said Sarkozy.
“The partnership shows our wish to expand co-operation in the fields of energy, agriculture, transport, environment and trade. We did what we are allowed to do and can do. Now, it is up for ministries to make efforts,” Basescu said.
The Romanian leader also announced that Gaz de France will join the EU's gas pipeline project Nabucco, for which Romania will extend full support.
“Romania will be an extremely loyal partner of the decisions of the European Union, but will not recognize the independence of the province of Kosovo declared unilaterally,” added President Basescu.
Chad government
Sarkozy said that France was concerned about the situation in Chad, where rebels are trying to overthrow the government, AP reported.
France and the European Union would send troops only with the approval of the UN Security Council, Sarkozy said. The approval was swift in coming: The council voted Monday for a nonbinding resolution to condemn the attack and to urge France and other countries to help the Chadian government repel the rebels.
""We must avoid a conflict in Chad by supporting the legitimate government,"" Sarkozy said. ""In no region should weapons be a way to come to power.""
Basescu said his country would contribute to a European Union force in Chad, led by France.
Sarkozy arrived in Bucharest on Monday morning for a one-day official visit to implement the strategic partnership between the two countries. This is Sarkozy's first visit since he was elected president in May last year. He paid a visit to Romania in 2002 as foreign minister. The visit is part of Sarkozy's tour of several European capitals before France assumes the rotating EU presidency in the second half of 2008.
Romanian-French relations have seen significant development in recent years. There have been more frequent exchanges of official visits including top level ones, which have consolidated the foundation of a political, economic and cultural partnership between the two countries. France also gave active support to Romania's integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic political, economic and security structures.